Since 2013, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness of any kind decreased by 23%; the number of unsheltered Veterans experiencing street homelessness decreased by 86%; and over 900 Veterans have moved into housing.

PhillyVetsHome partners attribute the incredible progress of the past year to unprecedented collaboration of government and nonprofit agencies and believe this success suggests a model for other pressing issues facing the City of Philadelphia.

Last month, the PhillyVetsHome along with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced an ambitious end date to Veteran homelessness in the city: Veterans Day 2015. After November 11th, 2015, if homelessness should occur in a Veteran’s life, it will be rare, brief and non-reoccurring.

Philadelphia is one of 25 Cities identified by the Department of Veteran Affairs, with exceptionally high concentrations of homeless Veterans and selected to intensify and integrate local efforts to end Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. This is a joint effort by VA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and local community partners to find permanent housing solutions for Veterans experiencing homelessness. Of the 25 Cities participating in this initiative, only one city has reached the goal to date.

With the recent release of the PIT Count, PhillyVetsHome believes Philadelphia could be next.